Environmental Engineering Graduate Student Picnics
We do potlucks and picnics pretty often. Sometimes Faculty are also invited, below are faculty staff and graduate students potluck from 2023.
Current SALTS Lab Students
Kat Pankratz
My research here at Penn State revolves around using bivalves to monitor anthropogenic pollution. We utilize multiple techniques to measure radioactivity, stable and unstable isotopic ratios, PFAS, and microplastic accumulation to inform biological uptake of pollutants and fingerprinting its source.
Kat’s work includes field sampling and laboratory work. Look how fast Kat performs her lab work to extract PFAS from mussel tissue!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ucntFMrKyxvPREy69
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rZYdyjQsgFe5robTA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/XFJkM84nnCv9V9Ed8
Jutamas Bussarakum (Judy)
My research focuses on investigating microplastic contamination in freshwater sediment cores, aiming to reveal historical microplastic pollution in freshwater using 210Pb dating to develop age models and identify the factors contributing to microplastic contamination in different regions.
Sediment cores are collected in reservoirs of low energy environments.
Samples of the core are used to age-date the sediment and correlate depth with age.
Microplastics are extracted and separated from the sediment. and then identified and counted using microscopy.
Once identified some microplastics are analyzed to determine the type of plastic (e.g., HDPE, polyester).
Nicole Lane
My research focuses on the geochemical interactions between radium and salinity in groundwater. With the USGS, I have developed a model that helps model these interactions. I am also working with well-owners throughout Pennsylvania to collect samples from their wells and analyze the activities of radium in their drinking water to better understand the spatial relationships of radium and salinity in groundwater.
https://sites.psu.edu/citizenscience/
Yossra Maged Mohamed Mokhtar – Graduated!
Allison Fenske
This project evaluates the use of recycled concrete as a remediation material for acid mine drainage versus local aggregates currently used. A column leach test is set up as the lab component to the project, AMDTreat will be used to run an economic analysis, and openLCA will be used to evaluate environmental impacts.
Previous Groups:
SALTS lab Group
Nathaniel Warner – PI
Our research focuses on using boron, strontium, and radium isotope geochemistry to better understand the processes controlling sources of salts in produced waters, shallow groundwater, surface water, sediment, and biological media. Identifying the source(s) of salinity is vital for assessing the development strategy for both water and hydrocarbon resources under changing climate and energy resource development scenarios. Most recently, our work has helped assess possible environmental impacts associated with high volume slick water hydraulic fracturing (HVHF).
Graduate Students:
Tom Geeza – PhD Candidate (Graduated!-
Environmental Engineering, BS, MS Penn State
Likes: Playing guitar, fly fishing, high calorie content food.
Tom Sampling in western PA.
Tom is currently a postdoctoral Fellow at Los Alamos National Labs, NM
updated 2022 Now a Postdoctoral Fellow at oak Ridge national Labs!
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Moses Ayo Ajemigbitse, PhD. Candidate, Co-advised with Dr. Fred Cannon
Environmental Engineering, Penn State, B.S. Petroleum Engineering, WVU 2014
Moses was born and raised in Nigeria, son of George and Adetutu Ajemigbitse and brother to three lovely sisters. Moses got his bachelor’s degree in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering at West Virginia University, where he developed a love for the outdoors and research. He moved to Penn State in 2014 to begin his PhD studies on physical-chemical processing of hydraulic fracturing wastewater for radium removal/sequestration. In his spare time, Moses enjoys storytelling, football (soccer), photography, the outdoors, community building and teaching Sunday school.
Moses is currently an Environmental Consultant in OH.
Bonnie McDevitt – PhD Graduate Student – Graduated and now at USGS in Reston VA!
Bonnie is currently a University Graduate Fellow (UGF), one of the highest graduate awards available at Penn State. In 2012, she received a B.S. from University of Delaware – Agriculture & Natural Resources and Wildlife Conservation and 3 minors (Spanish, Entomology, and Resource Economics). She graduated with Honors with Distinction, Summa Cum Laude. In addition, Bonnie has won several academic awards, including: Dale F. Bray Award, Ruth McNeal Scholarship, Global Citizenship Award, Congressional Award Gold Medal, Dean’s List. During her time at Delaware she was also a Stream Watch Volunteer, a member of an honorary agricultural fraternity (Alpha Zeta) and served as an “Ag Ambassador” for her College. Bonnie also co-founded of WAVE which partnered with the Philadelphia Water Works and Philadelphia Global Water Initiative to educate the public about the global water crisis. and funded a water pump and sanitation program in Kadiana, Mali. participated in Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) and worked as a beekeeper at Waitaki Honey Co., New Zealand. Recently, Bonnie worked several years as a Source Water Protection Specialist for the New Jersey Water Association and completed a Delaware Water Resources Center Internship.
Bonnie is currently at US Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
Audrey was born and raised in Ohio, near Columbus. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and a minor in Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability in May 2017. Audrey earned an Honors Research Distinction for her undergraduate thesis work, which investigated the effect of silver nanoparticle size on aggregation kinetics in the presence of electrolytes. Audrey is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering here at Penn State, and she is investigating the efficacy and impacts of using oil and gas wastewater as a dust suppressant on rural roads. Audrey has an older sister and a younger brother, and two nephews. She enjoys traveling, hiking and cooking.
Audrey is currently an Environmental Consultant in Ohio.
Kat Van Sice – MS (graduated May 2018!)
Kat graduated from The Evergreen State College with a bachelor’s of science degree in environmental science in 2016 (after only 2.5 years!). Her undergraduate research spanned microbiology, genetics, ecology, and renewable energy technology. She coordinated a statewide campaign to increase solar energy production in Washington through the national nonprofit Public Interest research Group (PIRG). She also led a research project to quantify the biological methane potential of organic waste streams in Thurston County, WA to facilitate the construction of an anaerobic digester in the area. Kat enjoys traveling, reading, and the outdoors.
Kat is currently an Environmental Consultant in Charlotte, NC
Undergraduate Researchers
Kailash Jayachandran- graduated!
Kailash completed a semester-long project in spring 2016. Here pictured sampling in western PA and presenting his poster of findings at the undergraduate symposium.
Johnna Puhr –graduated!
Johnna competed a research experience for undergraduates (REU) project in Fall 2016 through the College of Engineering. Her work focused on radium accumulation in sediment of western Pennsylvania. Johnna completed her degree in May 2017! She is now working full time, while at the same time studying for her FE.
Emily Trageser –graduated!
Emily is a second-year electrical engineering major who is completing a multi-campus REU focused on creating a device with open-source hardware and software that will measure water conductivity and temperature. She has several functioning prototypes from RIFFLEs to HOBOs to Mayflies as part of her project “EnviroDIY Mayfly Device to Measure Conductivity in Western Pennsylvania Waterways”. Emily is co-advised with Dr. Alandra Kahl, Greater Allegheny Campus.
Rebecca Hazy –graduated!
Rebecca is Schreyers Honors College senior who completed an REU “The
Construction of Riffle Devices to Measure Conductivity and Temperature in Western Pennsylvania Waterways” (also co-advised with Dr. Alandra Kahl of the greater Allegheny Campus. Rebecca is now back to complete her honors thesis on bioaccumulation of alkali earth metals in riparian bird feathers.
Yadiel Varela Soler – graduated!
Yadiel is a second-year student from the University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez Campus, which is located on the western side of the beautiful and tropical island of Puerto Rico. He is also majoring in Chemical Engineering. Yadiel participated in a Summer Research Opportunity Program in the summer of 2017. He is about to complete his project “A Survey on the Possible Risks of Oil and Gas Wastewater Disposal” in August 2017. Yadiel has many hobbies, including watching series, eating, and spending time with friends and loved ones. He played baseball and basketball for approximately 12 years. He also occasionally practices dove hunting with his father and brother.